Metsubishi: Using the Ninja Principle of “Turning Your Eyes Away” for Modern Self-Defense

One of the problems with learning ninjutsu, whether you train in a dojo or learn through online ninja training programs, is that it can be easy to get stuck in the so-called “classical approach.” This is where ancient museum pieces become the focus of training, rather than the application of ancient principles and concepts to self-defense in today’s modern world.

One of the Ninja’s weapons that tends to remain in this “classical” sense is that of the Shadow Warrior. Metsubish (also pronounced: “metsubushi”). Known as “blinding powder,” the material that produces the “smokescreen” effect, the word actually means “sight remover.”

This article offers 5 common items you can use for modern self-defense as substitutes for Ninja’s so-called “blinding powder.” So instead of carrying around a hidden eggshell filled with some old fashioned mixture, here are some very common, everyday things that can be used strategically to achieve the same results as the Metsubish was originally designed for. They include.

1) Accounts. If you wear a beaded bracelet, you could break it and allow the beads to slip off the string and into your hand. Loose objects, including the rope, can then be thrown at your attacker when he’s ready to make his move.

It can be difficult to destroy your own jewelry, especially if it is expensive or has some sentimental value. But, in a self-defense situation, you have to decide, in the moment, if the object that could save your life has the same value as your life itself.

2) Flash light. While you could use a standard flashlight, I think those little keychain lights are perfect little weapons for this tactic. Can you imagine what it feels like when a sudden bright light hits your attacker’s eyes after they have fully dilated to accommodate the darkness of night? Not only will it surprise them, but the trauma to the eyes, now forced to a point, will blind the attacker for more than the several seconds it takes for them to escape to safety or turn around!

3) Snow. Obviously a tactic reserved for a certain time of year, as well as for those of us who really get snow. But, I wanted to add this to the list to make sure they didn’t ignore the ground or such an obvious self-defense aid just because the ground, dirt, and grass I mentioned above was covered.

4) Aerosol spraying. This could be anything from cologne or perfume, to hairspray and even bug spray. In fact, one of the suggestions I give students as a substitute for pepper spray is bug spray, specifically the kind designed for spraying wasp and hornet nests.

The use of chemical irritants always creates a longer window of opportunity, but it also requires a greater awareness on your part of the direction of the wind and the direction the nozzle is pointing. The last thing you need to protect yourself from a crazed attacker is to shoot yourself in the eye with your own spray.

5) His own hand. In our attempt to master the techniques, tactics, and strategies of self-defense, we can overlook the simplest things. Instead of just hitting or grabbing with your hands, you can use them at various points in a self-defense situation to cover your assailant’s eyes while you execute another damaging technique. Sudden blindness will draw their attention to your hand and allow you to effectively do what you want at the time.

Contrary to popular belief, the idea of Metsubish, “that takes away the sight”, is not limited to the mixture with the same name. In fact, the physical dust itself is only a reflection of the larger concept. Just as there are many ways to affect someone’s ability to see, there are also many objects and methods to accomplish this.

The magic of the Ninja does not lie in their weapons and “tricks”. The critical element in the art of Ninja that makes it perfectly suited for modern self-defense is his ability to allow you to adapt to the time and location he finds himself in.